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I have been on strict paleo for 2 months now. I have recently, in the last week, been feeling CONSTANTLY hungry. Tonight, for instance, I ate Half a large spag squash filled with shrimp, a whole avacado, onions & salsa. The first bowl didnt help at all, so I ate a second. Then I still felt hungry, so I ate a handful of trail mix with some chocolate. It seems sugar is the only way to make my body feel full, no matter how much I eat. I also tried adding more at breakfast to stave off the hour-later-ready-for-another-meal syndrome. I ate 3 eggs, 3 pieces of turkey bacon. I felt full longer, but dinner tonight proved otherwise. I tried keeping sugary stuff (fruit, coffee w/sweetner) out of my morning routine, and moved it to late morning/early afternoon, which has helped with energy but not the hunger/cravings. I dont believe I have the means to do a Sugar Detox yet as I am still new to this whole paleo lifestyle and dont want to get burnt out. I also tried making a protien shake when these hunger/sugar cravings came, thinking it was lack of protien. Nope. I am naturally lanky (5'11" 145lbs) but the last few weeks I am adding inches around my mid section, so I am leary about adding more fat. Any suggestions would help!

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Your sugar cravings are are your body's cry for more fat. I know it is scary at first, but try substituting fat for sugar for a week and then see how you feel. Sugar is guaranteed to add inches to your middle, but fat will actually help your body utilize the fat stores you already have. If you like it, coconut oil taken before meals will actually help you burn more fat. – Happy Now Sep 28 2011 at 2:04
definitely agree with the lack of fat, I see the avocado but regular bacon would be more satisfying. Stay away from the sugary mixes. Make your own with coconut, dark chocolate, nuts (melt and mix) – Kelly Sep 28 2011 at 11:27
agree more fat, get rid of that turkey bacon, go w/ 4 eggs for breakfast, eat some grass fed beef. try having a nice 10oz ribeye w/ some veggies for dinner dosed w/ grass fed pastured butter. i doubt you will be hungry after that... unless you keep feeding your sugar fix. – pbo Sep 28 2011 at 23:53

6 Answers

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My first thought: Where's the fat? I didn't read any.

It may be n=1, but fat satisfies me, and carbs make me hungry.

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This is exactly it. Just because you're doing 'strict paleo,' doesn't mean you're eating right. To troubleshoot the meals you mentioned, try replacing the shrimp with dark meat chicken or pork, replace the turkey bacon with real bacon, and eat a cheeseburger instead of a protein shake. The only thing you mentioned with saturated fat was the eggs. Keep eating lots and lots of those. – Ichai Sep 28 2011 at 9:13
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Ugh, turkey bacon! Might as well just eat egg whites... – Dave S. Sep 28 2011 at 14:28
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Cook bananas in bacon fat. or apples in bacon fat. or whatever will be delicious, fatty and satisfying (sugar fix) AND not nutritionally void.

that way you don't get feelings of deprivation and at the same time you're letting your body know you're giving it what it (probably) wants (fat). Of course, for me, these preparations would always accompany an actual meal to cover a broader nutrient base.

but i definitely think eating what sounds good is REALLY important..otherwise you'll just keep eating more than you need to try and satisfy what you want. I think it's important to satisfy the soul (via the palate) whilst fulfilling your theoretical cronometer.

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If what has been suggested doesn't work, try eating more red meat. Find a cut of steak that fits your tastes/budget and eat tons of it.

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Steak for breakfast and dinner for a few weeks is what reset my appetite. – Happy Now Sep 28 2011 at 22:47
Me too; even equivalent amounts of chicken or another meat don't work like beef/lamb. – Travis Culp Sep 28 2011 at 22:50
Red meat does seem to have a satiating quality that birds and fish don't really have – ben61820 Sep 29 2011 at 1:18
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3rd case in as many days of a naturally thin person not dealing well with low carb. Eat 150+ grams of carbs from dense starches like potatoes and/or sweet potatoes at regular intervals every day. You will be instantly satiated and feel much better.

I can consume 1000s of calories of fat, literally drink cups of the stuff and not be satiated without carbs. I've downed more than a pint of heavy cream in one sitting on top of meat and roughage and still felt gnawingly hungry (which is an odd feeling to have when you're physiclaly stuffed to the point of discomfort). It's different for skinny people.

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Plus one because I can relate... Not the naturally thin portion, but the drinking/eating 1000s of calories of fat without satisfaction when all I needed was a little carb. – Meghan Sep 29 2011 at 2:11
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I have the exact same problem. My solution has been to snack on unreasonable amounts of veggies like celery and carrots. No matter how hungry you are, eventually you're going to choke down enough veggies to become satisfied.

It's not the most fun solution, but it helps me.

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If this doesn't go away in a couple weeks, I suggest you live a little and eat a potato. – animalcule Sep 29 2011 at 1:24
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As others have posted, I've found that if my meal doesn't contain enough fat, I will keep eating and craving. I've even had cases where physically I feel full, but I'm still craving food, and looking into the fridge.

Fat helps me the most. Usually in the form of saturated. Clarified butter, or lard or similar. Coconut oil too, but not as satisfying.

example of my fix for meals: I had some lean grass-fed stew, so I threw in a coupla tea-spoons of clarified butter. Made me feel satiated quickly!

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